LAS VEGAS — Vergil Ortiz returns to the ring Saturday for an interim WBC tremendous welterweight title battle in opposition to Serhii Bohachuk on the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Ought to he win, he might be thrust into massive battle after massive battle, as Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya advised World Boxing Information and different reporters this week that he’s planning to field Ortiz in opposition to Tim Tszyu, and Terence Crawford in upcoming fights.
The 26-year-old Ortiz has lengthy been touted for achievement at Golden Boy and is on the cusp of turning into the face of De La Hoya’s roster, largely because of his knockout streak.
Golden Boy have proven in recent times a need to hunt out the largest, and, typically hardest fights for his or her athletes, having booked Ryan Garcia into the Gervonta Davis mega-event final 12 months, and Jaime Munguia in opposition to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez earlier this 12 months. Ought to Ortiz maintain profitable, an enormous 154-pound battle in opposition to Crawford might be as significant for boxing as these two pay-per-view occasions.
“I believe Crawford and Vergil within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months shall be an excellent battle,” De La Hoya advised WBN after making a $20,000 donation to Las Vegas educators on Wednesday.
A dominant pressure at light-weight, tremendous light-weight, and welterweight, a division by which he scored an all-time nice win over long-time rival Errol Spence Jr., ‘Bud’ Crawford moved to 154 for a title battle in opposition to Israil Madrimov that WBN attended August 3 in Los Angeles.
Although he beat Madrimov by choice, Crawford didn’t look as devastating as he has in recent times.
De La Hoya advised us that’s to be anticipated typically when a fighter strikes up a division and fights a top-tier man.
“Generally you’re not going to look as you probably did in earlier fights, preventing smaller guys. And it’s okay, he mentioned. “It’s a studying course of. He has to determine himself at 154.”
Earlier than Ortiz and Crawford battle, de la Hoya wish to see his fighter compete in opposition to Tszyu.
Ortiz and Tszyu have been presupposed to battle on the primary card of the Crawford vs Madrimov occasion, however Tszyu withdrew on account of a head harm.
A supply at Golden Boy Promotions advised us Thursday that this labored out internally as they regarded Ortiz as a headliner slightly than a major card fighter, significantly if he was to compete in opposition to a fighter like Bohachuk, whom he packing containers this weekend on DAZN.
Although Bohachuk, like Madrimov, is a troublesome champion, if Ortiz wins, then it’s possible that the Tszyu battle shall be rearranged.
De la Hoya mentioned as a lot Thursday, when he once more addressed WBN and different reporters at a press convention to speak about his occasion, and what’s in retailer for Ortiz within the close to future.
“I’ll pursue Tim Tszyu earlier than we get to Crawford,” he mentioned.
The tremendous welterweight panorama has three distinct champions.
Sebastian Fundora has the WBO and WBC belts wrapped round his waist, whereas Bakhram Murtazaliev and Crawford are the IBF and WBA champs, respectively.
For Golden Boy, it looks as if the easiest way to construct up a super-fight at tremendous welterweight is to have Ortiz, ought to he beat Bohachuk, battle the winner of the Murtazaliev vs Tszyu battle later this 12 months, after which put the titles on the road in opposition to Fundora for a unification match.
The final man standing, on this situation, could be ideally positioned to battle Crawford.
“That’s what boxing’s all about,” De La Hoya mentioned.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the 12 months finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Comply with Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
